Cologne under water: Pedestrians and cyclists face an insurmountable obstacle!
Storms in Cologne on May 31, 2025: Thunderstorms and hail led to water accumulation, acutely dangerous weather warnings active.

Cologne under water: Pedestrians and cyclists face an insurmountable obstacle!
A violent storm hit Cologne last weekend and caused a few surprises. Loud Cologne City Gazette An official severe weather warning was issued by the German Weather Service (DWD) on May 28th at 3:09 p.m. The warning was valid from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and announced strong thunderstorms, gusts of wind with speeds of up to 80 km/h and heavy rain with up to 20 liters per square meter. This was accompanied by small-grain hail, which further increased the effects of the storm.
The thunderstorms spread across central and eastern Germany, with the first thunderstorm activity already occurring in the west in the morning. A low pressure area brought with it a moist air mass, which led to stronger developments across the region from the afternoon onwards. As a result, the DWD explicitly warned of possible tornadoes and recommended seeking shelter in buildings and closing windows and doors in the event of impending storms.
Consequences for Cologne
The effects of the storm were clearly noticeable in Cologne. The fire department reported normal operations on Saturday, May 31st, but the reader reporters had a completely different opinion. An attentive eyewitness, Michael, discovered a considerable accumulation of water on the Zollstock Lake District. This had formed under the underpass of the Raderthal belt and is now causing considerable discomfort for pedestrians and cyclists who can no longer get through there. It is believed that the water accumulation could be due to clogged drains that were unable to drain after the heavy rain, such as Express reported.
Whatever the case, the storm made it clear that taking proper precautions is essential in such extreme weather conditions. While the city administration wants to guarantee the safety of its citizens, it is still important for residents in Cologne to remain vigilant and stay informed about current weather warnings via platforms such as Severe Weather Center to inform.
The weather situation at a glance
A review of the current weather situation shows that severe weather warnings in Germany are divided into two categories: advance warnings, which can be issued up to 48 hours in advance, and acute warnings, which indicate the certain occurrence of natural hazards. The warning levels are divided into the categories orange, red and violet, which range from moderate to extreme storms. This helpful information is updated around the clock by professional meteorologists and is available to the public at any time.
Overall, it should be noted that last weekend in Cologne was characterized by intense weather events, which could result in traffic disruptions as well as damage to property. So let’s stay vigilant and well informed!